Between 1985 and 1998, Denis Chouinard wrote, directed or co-directed six short films. His first feature film, Clandestins, co-directed with Nicolas Wadimoff, was selected for many festivals and won many prizes.

His second feature, L'Ange de goudron, was chosen as the opening film for the International Film Festival of Montreal in 2001 and took the prize for best Canadian feature film as well as the Telefilm Canada prize.

The film also won the prestigious ecumenical jury prize at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2002. Later that year, Chouinard directed the documentary, Voir Gilles Groulx. Délivrez-moi is his third feature film.